A healthcare expert has raised concerns after a TikTok user experienced severe illness and required medical help following a questionable dining experience while visiting Bali.
The island of Bali in Indonesia attracts millions of backpackers every year, with an estimated 6.3 million international tourists expected to visit the province in 2024.
Among those travelers was Lawrence Cooke, a 20-year-old from Nottingham, UK, who visited Indonesia in 2025 and explored its attractions.
Unfortunately, Lawrence’s impression of the beautiful island was marred by a particular meal that left both him and his partner feeling extremely unwell.
Lawrence recounted: “My partner started feeling ill around 11 o’clock at night and we just thought nothing of it. But at about 1 in the morning, she woke me up and said, ‘I’m really not well, I’m about to be sick’.”
They both felt unwell and attempted to sleep it off, but half an hour later, Lawrence found himself ‘vomiting everywhere,’ describing the ordeal as ‘awful’.
Lawrence explained: “So we were staying in the Airbnb, we didn’t feel well, and then was up all night. We said we’ll just stay in bed for the day and just see how we feel at the end of the day. And as the day went on, it just got worse and worse.
“We found out you could get a call out doctor, and we weren’t too sure about it, so we just did a bit of research. It’s so easy, they just come out to help you and talk about what sort of symptoms you’ve got, all the things you’re suffering from. They gave [us] immune boosters and electrolytes.”
Following a variety of unpleasant symptoms including headaches and severe diarrhea, Lawrence shared that both he and his partner started feeling significantly better within three hours of receiving medical care.
Approximately 19 hours after their symptoms began, Lawrence was back to normal. He speculated that a curry might have caused his case of ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’.
Professor Hakan Ümit Ünal, M.D, a gastroenterologist at Acibadem Hospitals, has offered advice on the hazards to be cautious of regarding food and drink when traveling internationally.
“‘Bali Belly,’ or traveller’s diarrhoea, is a pretty common issue for people visiting places where the food, water, and local bacteria are different from what their stomachs are used to,” the healthcare professional explained.
“It’s usually caused by bacteria like E. coli, but other viruses and parasites can play a role, too.”
While this illness is often referred to as ‘Bali Belly’, it is important to understand that similar ailments can occur in various parts of the world due to different dietary and environmental conditions.
Professor Ünal noted that it is crucial to be cautious about what you consume while traveling. He advised: “To avoid falling prey to it, my advice is to stick to bottled or boiled water, be very careful when it comes to ice in drinks, and choose freshly cooked food. Washing your hands often goes a long way, too, as does giving raw salads or unpeeled fruit a miss, unless you know they’ve been washed safely.”
“‘Bali Belly’ is usually quite mild, but don’t underestimate how bad it can get on occasion. Look out for red flags such as signs of dehydration (like dizziness, dry mouth, or very dark urine), high fever, or blood in the stool. It’s rare, but if dehydration gets worse and isn’t treated, it can be dangerous, so it’s vital to get medical help early.”